Sharp Aquos zero6 vs Sony Xperia 5 III: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two compelling contenders against each other: the Sharp Aquos zero6 and the Sony Xperia 5 III. Both offer unique features, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia 5 III takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, superior camera capabilities, and faster charging. While the Aquos zero6 boasts a sleek design and potentially a more refined software experience, the Xperia 5 III offers a more robust and feature-rich package.

PHONES
Phone Names Sharp Aquos zero6 Sony Xperia 5 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands1, 3, 28, 78, 257 SA/NSA/mmWave1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2021, October 14. Released 2021, October 142021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, October 08
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158 x 73 x 7.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight146 g (5.15 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 IPX5/IP6X/IPX8 water/dust resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 240HzOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D (depth)12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single12.6 MP8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 4010 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSwan BlackBlack, Green, Pink
Models-XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B
PriceAbout 400 EUR€ 431.90 / £ 199.99
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 100h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sharp Aquos zero6

  • Sleek and minimalist design
  • Clean and refined software experience
  • Potentially more affordable
  • Excellent color accuracy on display

  • Less powerful chipset
  • Camera not as advanced as Xperia 5 III
  • Charging speed slower
  • Availability may be limited

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Excellent camera system
  • Fast charging (PD)
  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • High brightness display

  • Can be more expensive
  • Software updates can be slower
  • Design may not appeal to everyone

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, but the Xperia 5 III's 590 nits brightness gives it an edge in outdoor visibility. The Aquos zero6's display is known for its color accuracy and smooth scrolling, while the Xperia 5 III boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio (though this is a nominal value). The Xperia 5 III's smaller size might also be preferable for one-handed use.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 5 III's camera system is generally considered superior. While both offer capable photo and video capabilities, the Xperia 5 III benefits from Sony's renowned camera technology and processing. Expect better low-light performance, more detailed images, and more advanced video recording options on the Xperia 5 III.

Performance

The Xperia 5 III's Snapdragon 888 is a clear winner here. Its Cortex-X1 core and faster architecture provide significantly better performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing compared to the Aquos zero6's Snapdragon 750G. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the Xperia 5 III.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have excellent endurance, with a rating of 100h. However, the Xperia 5 III's PD charging allows for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes, offering a significant advantage in terms of charging speed.

Buying Guide

The Sharp Aquos zero6 is ideal for users prioritizing a minimalist design, a clean software experience, and potentially a more affordable price point. The Sony Xperia 5 III is best suited for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and those who demand top-tier performance and a wider range of features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both phones are reported to have excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 100 hours. However, the Xperia 5 III charges significantly faster.
❓ Is the Sharp Aquos zero6 worth buying if I'm on a budget?
The Aquos zero6 can be a good value option if you prioritize design and a clean software experience over raw performance. However, consider if the performance limitations are a dealbreaker.